Scottish composer wins classical award

[Celyn]

From the Herald newspaper website8/5/03 : http://www.theherald.co.uk/

Scottish composer wins classical award

PHIL MILLER

THE winners of the most prestigious awards in the classical music world, the Royal Philharmonic Society Music Awards, have been announced - including a Scottish composer and the former conductor of Scotland's national orchestra.

The RPS awards, an annual event held in London, has honoured James Dillon, the

Edinburgh-raised composer, and Marin Alsop, the former conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

However, at a ceremony held last night at the Dorchester Hotel, several leading names in the classical music scene in Scotland failed at the last hurdle to win prizes, as Scottish Opera, the Edinburgh International Festival, and the composer Stuart MacRae were beaten in their categories.

Dillon, 52, from Glasgow, won the best composition award at the chamber orchestra scale for his new work, The Book of Elements, Volume 5.

The judges of the prize said: "The five volumes of The Book of Elements represent one of the most significant contributions to the piano repertoire of recent years.

Classical music fans in Scotland will be delighted to see Ms Alsop receiving the prestigious RPS award for best conductor.

Although much of her award was recognition of her role as principal conductor of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, it also recognised the body of her work in recent years.

Although Ms Alsop, who was principal guest conductor at the RSNO from 1999 until early this year, is now primarily concerned with the BSO, she will be returning to Scotland next year for a further series of concerts with the RSNO.

Scottish Opera had been nominated for the best opera award for its version of Siegfried.

The Edinburgh Festival was nominated in the audience development and best concert series and festival categories for its successful series of cheap late-night concerts last year.

-May 8th